Bruce last appeared on a Portland stage as Niels Bohr in "Copenhagen" at Artists Repertory Theatre. He has garnered two Drammy Awards in past seasons: a Best Actor nod for the title role in "Killer Joe," and a Best Supporting Actor award for his performance as Tilden in "Buried Child," both at ART.

We were interested to hear from Bruce about his role in "Shining City" and the particular challenges presented by this project. Here's our exhange:

Third Rail: What about "Shining City" and your character in particular prompted you to accept the role of John?

Bruce: In almost thirty years of acting, I have never done an Irish play (with the possible exception of Shaw's "Mrs. Warren's Profession"). "Shining City" gave me the opportunity to rectify that. Another thing that intrigued me about the play is that it was one of the few plays I've ever read where I had no idea of either how it would end or what it meant until the last page of the script. The ending of "Shining City" packs a wallop that few playwrights can muster.

TR: McPherson's writing includes so many ellipses and not-completed lines. Does this present any special challenges for you, in terms of your preparation?

Bruce: Without doubt, this is one of the most demanding plays that I have ever worked on. McPherson is a master at conveying ultra-realistic dialogue, replete with pauses, interrupted thoughts, and the hesitations and idiosyncrasies of actual speech. The challenges of bringing this type of dialogue to life are many, not the least of which is filling in the thoughts that were the original impetus behind abbreviated, abandoned, and sometimes one-word sentences. He's great, but he's hard.

TR: Is there any particular challenge in acting opposite a mostly silent partner (the psychologist Ian)?

Bruce: Most plays are like tennis matches -- bouncing lines back and forth, from one actor to another. The third scene in "Shining City," for me, is more like a marathon. What is essentially a 20-minute monologue is something that I've never tackled before, and it's a doozy. The sheer volume of lines is a big challenge, as well as the (relative) lack of verbal response from my fellow cast member, Michael O'Connell. But I take comfort in the fact that I know Michael will be right with me, lines or no, doing what terrific actors do -- living an onstage life from moment to moment -- whether he's speaking or not.

TR: Anything else you'd like to say about the play or the role?

Bruce: It's been a long time since I've hit the boards, and what could be a better return than to work with Third Rail? I have great admiration for the integrity, commitment, and talent of the members of the company, as well as for the respect they always show to both process and imagination. I'm just happy to be in the midst of all that.

And we're so glad to have you in "Shining City," Bruce!